As Obama reassures Baltic states of Nato’s protection, Kazakhs wonder if they will follow Ukraine, Chechnya and GeorgiaBarack Obama leaves Washington on Tuesday for the small Baltic state of Estonia on Russia’s north-western border to reassure the vulnerable country that it is safe within Nato from Vladimir Putin’s clutches.En...

Nato is to form a 4,000-strong spearhead force designed to go into action in 48 hours in response to Russian intervention in Ukraine. Stockpiles of military equipment will be stored at bases in Eastern Europe for the troops to use when they go into operation. …read more Source: The...

Ukraine says Moscow is providing direct military support to rebels as army and volunteer battalions report heavy casualtiesPro-Russia rebels are making decisive gains against Ukrainian forces in the east of the country, a turning of tides on the battlefield that Kiev says is due to Moscow providing direct military support.The Ukrainians suffered...

Nato is to form a 4,000-strong spearhead force designed to go into action in 48 hours in response to Russian intervention in Ukraine. Stockpiles of military equipment will be stored at bases in Eastern Europe for the troops to use when they go into operation. …read more Source: The...

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – NATO leaders will respond to the Ukraine crisis by agreeing this week to create a “spearhead” rapid reaction force, potentially including several thousand troops, that could be sent to a hotspot in as little as two days, officials said on Monday. …read more Source:...

PMI, a key monthly measure of business at UK factories, hits 14-month low, fanning fears overall economic growth is tailing offBritain’s manufacturers suffered a sharp slowdown last month as the Ukraine crisis shows the first signs of hitting the UK economy.A key monthly measure of business at Britain’s factories hit a 14-month low,...

Italian daily La Repubblica reports that when EU commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso spoke with Russian leader Vladimir Putin by phone on Friday, Putin told him: “I can take Kiev in two weeks if I want”. Barroso’s spokeswoman declined to comment on the report when asked by EUobserver. …read more Source:...

The EU’s newly-nominated foreign policy chief, Italy’s Mogherini, Monday criticised Russian leader Putin, saying he has “never respected the commitments” he made on Ukraine and that he is “acting against the interests of [his] people”. Eastern European state had earlier opposed her nomination on grounds she is...